Well, it has been just over a week since the chooks arrived, and what a difference they have made to the place. Big bum Bunty is the boss and owns the big perch in the run. Edwina is the most curious and just loves it when Butch the wonder dog puts his nose through the wire. Ginger is usually the first to lay each day and is the only one eating the pellets in the grain mix. Polly is cute and shy, is the smallest, and has not yet laid, but I reckon she is a few weeks younger than the rest. We love them all, and can’t believe that only a week has passed by. They have really made themselves at home. Butch has settled down around them and only gets flustered if Edwina gives him a peck.Today was our first 3 egg day, so that takes the grand total since Tuesday (when they came on the lay) to 14 eggs, with most about 45g in weight. Not bad for the girls first week living it large at TGOG’s house. I mucked out their house and run on Saturday morning, and it took me a good hour to finish it. I took it real easy because I haven’t had much shovel action over the last year so didn’t want to upset the back too much. I did the run first before I let them out of their house for the day, and once clean and with the bedding refreshed, I took a 10 minute breather and then cleaned out their house. I put the straw and chook poo on the garden beds as mulch to stop the beds from drying out. The manure will certainly help the vegies grow! The house had too much fresh manure, so I put that lot in the compost bin to rot for a while. If I have to do this every week, like I do, then I am going to have to think of very inventive ways of using the soiled bedding. Maybe I can bag it and sell it as naturally fertilised mulch? What do you think, is there a market for that sort of thing?Anyway, here is a picture of “The Dirty Dozen”, because Ben ate the first two in an omelette. Ben thinks that the eggs taste fantastic. I think I will have a few soft boiled eggs with soldiers for breakfast tomorrow! Yummy. Click on the photo to enlarge and you will see that we have written the laying date in pencil on each egg. That way we can keep track of them and eat the oldest first. The spotty egg was Bunty’s first effort. The eggs have all come out very clean, and I give them a quick rub with an old tea towel before popping it in the carton.

As Kate from Hills & Plains Seedsavers has often told me, ‘Get there quick, then take it slow!’. Right as ever Kate and sound advice for anyone on a sustainable journey.

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“The COyou2 patented technology works by filtering the air you breathe out, capturing the carbon in a convenient lightweight backpack.

As you breathe out into the tube, the carbon dioxide passes through a solution of ammonium nitrate and the reaction allows the carbon to be isolated. The carbon is then stored in exchangeable inner bags that can then be sequestered in any nearby location including your own backyard.”

It is very clever satire, and although I did not sign up for the supposed catalogue because I am wary of this kind of rubbish, it is obviously meant to suck people in. It must be used to either gain their email address for some ulterior motive (spam, direct marketing of some other product), or some time down the track, your name will appear on a list of very stupid people.

What clinched it for me was the little ad on the FAQs page for COyou2 Petz. What a crack up! I did a google search, and only found similar posts, similar to that one I found on Greenfoot. All targeted sites were sustainable living or green blogs and companies, via their comment pages.

I reckon the Romans had it right with the phrase, “Caveat emptor!” or in English, “Let the buyer beware!”

So, avoid greenwash where you can, but sometimes it is just not that obvious unless you dig a little deeper.

Gav

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I know, I know. Just about every man and their chook has done a post on bottled water, but the one thing remains and that is that I have not.

Here are a few eye opening facts. In 2006, according to the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Australians drank 250 million litres of bottled water, which took a massive 456,131 barrels of oil to package and created 60,000 tonnes of GHG through its production and transportation. That is a big waste of energy, non-renewable resources, and with the average bottle of water costing about A$2.50 per 600ml, that is approx 416 million bottles at a cost of A$1.04 billion.

Here is the kicker. I figured out that if all that bottled water was replaced with tap water instead (@ 88.335 cents for a thousand litres), which is perfectly drinkable in all Australian cities, then it would only have cost $220,837. Compared to $1.04 billion, that is quite a saving. So that means that 600ml of tap water would cost you $0.00053 plus the glass to drink it from. Now that is a deal and a half.

So next time when you are out at a restaurant, and ask for water, ask for tap instead. It probably won’t cost you a cent and you will be saving resources to boot. Instead of lining the pockets of a massive corporation, who are ripping you off to the max, you can help keep your city’s water infrastructure intact for the future.

Now for some cool movies: The first video quotes global figures and make you think.

This video just shows how rediculous drinking bottled water can be, and how some peoples perception of it is. It is titled “Tears of a Cloud” and made by dothegreenthing.com

Enjoy!

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About Gavin Webber

An Ordinary Australian Man Who Has A Green Epiphany Whilst Watching A Documentary, Gets a Hybrid Car, Plants A Large Organic Vegetable Garden, Goes Totally Solar, Lowers Consumption, Feeds Composts Bins and Worms, Harvests Rainwater, Raises Chickens, Makes Cheese and Soap, and Eats Locally. All In The Effort To Reduce Our Family's Carbon Footprint So We Can Start Making A Difference For Our Children & Future Generations To Come.

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very good

June 28, 2015 by Scared pax from United Kingdom

This is a great podcast if you want to improve your life in so many aspects and become a more sustainable person. I love the soothing voice, the good pace, and it contains lots of useful information. Recommended!

opened my eyes

May 25, 2015 by Gorn4lyfe from Australia

A wonderful show!

Inspiring

April 30, 2015 by Alan Whelan from Ireland

This is a great podcast if you're looking for practical info on saving money by living more sustainably from someone who's made that journey over the last few years. Told in a nice, easy conversational style

Green Living, inspiring and practical

January 8, 2015 by EliseMac from Australia

Thanks Gav for sharing what has (and hasn't) worked along your journey for living a greener lifestyle. Inspiring and achievable for anyone, I look forward to this podcast weekly.

Local food equals less waste

December 27, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

Another brilliant podcast from Gavin Webber encouraging us, and showing us how, to cut down on food miles, growing our own food, and cutting down on food waste. Gavin is a really interesting speaker, showing us how to eat better, growing our own food and how to live more sustainably.

Honestly australian

December 15, 2014 by HodgepodgeOz from Australia

Fantastic podcast, with a wide variety of well thought and researched topics. Gavin is a honest, forthright pod aster with a genuine interest in helping others get green. Like a day alongside is a day wasted, so too is a week without listening to Gavin. Highly recommended for people starting out, or those in the midst of their new lifestyle. Keep it up Gavin, wish there were more great reviews! Kimberley

Morning motivation

December 8, 2014 by Bunnyworm from Australia

Gavin has a great passion for living this greener lifestyle that motivates others to do the same. The podcasts are always interesting and informative. :)

Passionate Advocate

October 18, 2014 by Bbgalpz from Australia

Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious. Thanks Gav, you are my weekly source of motivation for living a sustainable life! :)

Gavin speaks from the heart

October 13, 2014 by Green gavin from Australia

Gavin's podcasts are required listening for anyone planning to live a more sustainable life. He doesn't preach, but tells you his story from the heart. You'll laugh, smile, share in his concerns and along the way you'll pick up some great tips on living a simple life.

Green thoughts, so well iterated

October 9, 2014 by Kwasikwami from Australia

This is a wonderful podcast. Not only does Gavin talk knowledgeably on a range of sustainability topics from gardening tips all the way to the issues facing humanity as a whole, but he does so in such a wonderful voice, it's like listening to my Dad, love it!!

Easy listening inspiration on being green

September 24, 2014 by Broomedy from Australia

Gav knows how to share his journey to a more sustainable life in a manner that shows just how easy it really is. Not to mention healthier, economically beneficial and generally rewarding. The podcasts are an easy way to absorb Gav's great lifestyle. I recommend to anyone.

Passionate Advocate

September 10, 2014 by Bbgalpz from Australia

Gavin's enthusiasm and passion for creating a more sustainable world is nothing short of contagious.

Thanks Gavin!

August 31, 2014 by Honeywoodmilk from Australia

Great practical advice for a greener lifestyle. This podcast is for anybody interested in growing their own food in suburbia, saving electricity, brewing beer, making cheese, all that wonderful business and most of all, saving money! Thanks Gavin, love the podcast mate!

Enjoyed those ideas for staying warm

August 15, 2014 by enduringdragon from United States

Like you we are having winter here in Chile—brrr! Every bit we can save on heating we will.

Green Podcasts

July 26, 2014 by Carneu from Australia

Excellent podcasts, which are full of information to help get started on a sustainable lifestyle.

Practical ideas and inspiration

July 19, 2014 by HeathrowHeath from Australia

I highly recommend Gavin's podcast and blog. Down to earth, entertaining and inspirational. Thank you.

Interesting & easy to listen to

April 27, 2014 by Velocity3 from New Zealand

Gavin & his guests make this green journey lots of fun.

Green living for renters

April 26, 2014 by allotmentadventureswithjean from Australia

Always worth checking out Gavin's podcasts as he covers all aspects of sustainable living in the suburbs. This podcast is of particular interest to folk who want to live more sustainably whilst living in rental accommodation. Some great ideas.

Great green listen

April 18, 2014 by Obscurenickname from Australia

Gavin is a great down to earth, tell it like it is aussie with a passion for sustainability and growing food and making cheese